Replacing Internal Door
When it comes time to replace an internal door, the reasons could vary from the door fitting poorly, making it difficult to open and close, the door being out of style and unattractive, or trying to lighten an otherwise dark area of the home. The key when considering replacing an internal door is to choose the right type of replacement. In this article, we will provide you with some valuable tips for doing just that.
The most important step is to measure the doorframe not just at the top or bottom, or both, but to measure it in a number of places from top to bottom. Not all doorframes are equal all the way down so list any discrepancies on a pad of paper. This will ensure when you go to buy your new internal door, you choose one that will fit best. That way, the door looks better, it is easier to open and shut, no gaps can be seen, and the overall door looks and functions better.
Internal doors are typically broken down into four categories, which include moulded, panel, fireproof, and flush. In addition, internal doors are usually not as thick as what you would see with an external door since they do not do as much work in keeping cold or hot air out of the house. However, you still want to buy a quality internal door, one that will last for years. Below, we have summarized information on each of these four types.
- Moulded Internal Doors - This type of door is shaped using wood, plastic, of fibreboard. The sheet of material is then bonded to a timber frame. Usually, moulded internal doors are very, classic as far as design, to include beautiful, moulded panels. You will also find moulded doors come in a variety of colour, meaning you can avoid painting yourself.
- Panel Doors - You will find a number of different options when it comes to panel internal doors. For instance, there are six wooden panels all the way to 15 glazed panel doors. You will also find a large variety of finishes such as primed white, pine, along with other types of hardwood. Then, panel internal doors are comprised of two vertical stiles, as well as horizontal rails that enclose the panels.
If you want to save money, you can choose a panel internal door that has just one sheet of glass, which is then covered with horizontal and vertical rails. With this option, the panelled door has to be fitted when it contains the glass. Now, you could also go with a panel interior door fitted to the frame. In this case, the glass panels are added to the door on an individual basis, making the door much lighter and easier to hang.
- Fireproof Doors - Also called fire resistant, this type of internal door is much thicker than the other options. Fireproof doors are made with heavy-grade chipboard, or sometimes, a core of compressed straw. The benefit of a fireproof door is that should you experience a fire, you would generally have between 30 and 60 minutes or fire resistant protection. Because these doors are so robust, you want to make sure they are fitted into a one-piece of hardwood that is a rebated frame. Then, the door should be fitted with an automatic door closer if possible. If you want a glass panel, just make sure you use Georgian wired glass.
- Flush Doors - For this type of internal door, you would find it to be very cost effective and lightweight. Typically, a flush door is made from a narrow timber framework that is then covered entirely with plywood or hardwood on both sides. Inside of the frame, you would often find a solid piece of chipboard, cellular core of paper honeycomb, or semi-solid strips of timber. If you have a doorway that is an odd size or one with a large section that needs to be modified, a flush door would be the ideal choice.